This Day In Wrestling History – May 28th

2000 – Mitsuharu Misawa leaves All Japan and founds Pro Wrestling NOAH, taking all but two (Masanobu Fuchi & Toshiaki Kawada) of All Japan’s full-time roster with him

Events

In 1996, the second airing of WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog went off without a hitch, unlike the first attempt. The event, held in North Charleston, South Carolina (the original attempt was held in Florence) was marketed as ‘Beware of Dog 2′.

2001 – on Raw, Chris Jericho defeats Rhyno to win the WWF Hardcore Title, but would lose the belt back to Rhyno later in the night

Birthdays

Happy birthday to former ROH and current FCW Champion Tyler Black/Seth Rollins (26), former AWA and USWA Champion Kamala (62) and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion Headbanger Mosh, also known as Chaz and Beaver Cleavage (41)

In Memoriam

On this day in 2009, the wrestling world lost 10-time NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion ‘The Golden Greek’ John Tolos at the age of 78. Tolos started his career in his native Canada, competing alongside brother Chris as the Canadian Wrecking Crew. The duo found success all over the NWA territories, winning tag team titles from Stampede and Maple Leaf Wrestling in Canada, down to San Francisco and Hawaii. John also won tag team gold in the Texas, Western States and Los Angeles territories, teaming with various wrestlers. It was in the Hollywood territory where Tolos found his greatest success. Alongside 5 Tag Team Title reigns, he was a 10-time Heavyweight Champion, 3-time Television Champion and one-time United National Champion in the territory. He also won the Brass Knuckles title on several occasions, though there are conflicting sources on the exact number. In 1963, he and Chris won the WWWF US Tag Team Titles from Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski, arguably his most ‘significant’ title win. Tolos retired in the early 1980’s, though returned to wrestling as a manager in the early 1990’s, appearing as ‘Coach’ in the WWF and under his real name in the UWF. He quietly retired again the following year, taking a job as a security guard for Universal Studios Hollywood. In the years prior to his death, Tolos’ health had been in decline and he eventually passed peacefully of kidney failure